This was a blast from the past. I bought this book when Thomas was born because I remembered reading it a kid and, I think, seeing it on TV. We didn’t read it for ages as it isn’t a hard cardboard book and up until recently Thomas would have just destroyed it in minutes. When I did finally take it down of the bookshelf it was instantly adored.
The book was originally published in 1965 and was written and illustrated by Judith Kerr. To be honest the story is looking a bit dated now with the mother staying at home to look after her daughter and prepare tea for her faithful and all-knowing husband. Once she has let the tiger in to the house to have tea (!?!?) and he has eaten and drunk literally everything she has no idea what to do until her man comes home with the perfect soulution of going out to a cafe. There is also a milkman and a grocery delivery boy who turns up on a bike!
Anyway, sexualy politics, high-street economics and being a little bit un-PC aside, this is a great book for Thomas. He loves the colourful pictures of the tiger and is intrigued by the different poses he pulls. Thomas loves to point at and touch the tiger’s tail, as well as pointing to the different things in the kitchen and the bedroom. His favourite picture is the one where they are walking down the road at night to the cafe because it has a car and a bus in it.
I loved the book because of the trip down memory lane; Thomas loves the book because it has a tiger, a car and bus in it. What’s not to like?
The Head of the Heard 
It is a great children’s book and if you see it on stage it is just as good. Does it really matter to a very young child if it is old fashioned – wait until you get to Enid Blyton books now they are stuck in an era that I’m not sure ever existed in the first place but children definately love her books
I mentioned the theme of the book more to show how quickly attitudes have changed than anything else. If he was only exposed to stuff like this it migh tbecome a problem, but I don’t think he will be. I am not sure I am going ot get any Enid BVlyton books as there are so many more exciting books out there nowadays.
We have it with hard pages and our lad regularly gets to see it as well as have it read to him. Along with the bear hunt, the hungry caterpillar and a few others so many of us remember it from our childhood that we want to share it with our kids. I’m delighted to learn from Eileen that there’s a stage version too. As for the shortcomings, yes they’re there but you can be creative with them and tell another story like what animal came to visit when father was home with kid and mother was out at work.
Hi Jez,
Thanks for stoppy by. Making up alternative stories is a great idea and one I am going to go and try out immediately. We have the Hungry Caterpillar here in the house as well, but so far it hasn’t made it on to the favourites list.
I hope you get to see the play version of The Tiger Who Came To Tea. I have only heard good things about it.